Thank you, Traci, for your replies. I appreciate it so much. I'm trying to take heart in that the aspirate showed only fatty cells. I guess it's the location more than anything that has the vet uncertain. The vet is calling the oncology dept. tomorrow and then will get back with me. She asked when would be a good time for an appt for me, so I am assuming she'll make an appt. for me when she confers with them--if they think it's necessary. Regardless, she'll call me in the morning after speaking to someone there. I'm sure I'll take her into the Vet School regardless. Just wish I'd gone there first, to save a trip (and the stress on Casey). Again, I thank you for your replies to me.
Kindest regards, Tracey
Just noticed a lump on 15-yo's back!
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Tracey
Re: Just noticed a lump on 15-yo's back!
Well, hubby and I took Casey to the Vet School, oncology dept., yesterday morning. What little hope we had seemed dashed when the 4th-yr vet student (who does the pre-exam) agreed with our vet by saying that it didn't feel like a fatty tumor and that it felt "connected". After talking with the oncology resident, we decided to leave Casey there for a wedge biopsy, which would be the most definitive test, along with x-rays and sonogram to check other internal organs. Well, when we got back to pick her up, they told us they didn't feel the need to do that since the "tumor" was so deep that it'd have to be a true surgical procedure, and because 3 oncologists and the surgeon all concluded that it was probably NOT a fibro-sarcoma (which is normally not so deep)......also, we had already indicated that if it'd be a really invasive tumor-removal, we didn't want to put her through it, and with it being that deep it would've been pretty radical. Also, while Casey was sedated, the 3 oncologists all did aspirates and they all came back "lipoma" each time!! Of course, they say they can't rule out cancer 100%, but it looked really good. All other organs looked great; all in all, they said she looks wonderful for a 15-yr-old kitty! So, last year she survived a mis-diagnosis of renal failure (lost weight and strength on the diet to where we thought we were losing her), and this year she survived a cancer scare. Seven lives yet to go! Anyway, I'm grateful to be posting this good-news follow-up, and I thank you all. This is a GREAT website; thanks for making it available.
Best regards,
Tracey
Best regards,
Tracey
Re: Just noticed a lump on 15-yo's back!
Tracey~
I read your post and wanted to say how glad I am at the diagnosis of your beloved kitty of 15 years.
It really feels good when someone loves their pet so much and does everythign possibly for them. I myself had a knee operation for my 5 year old (luxating patella in her rear leg), and she is doing very well now.
Please let us know how she continues to do, and if you have a picture woud love to see her.
Mona, HOneybun and Chloe
I read your post and wanted to say how glad I am at the diagnosis of your beloved kitty of 15 years.
It really feels good when someone loves their pet so much and does everythign possibly for them. I myself had a knee operation for my 5 year old (luxating patella in her rear leg), and she is doing very well now.
Please let us know how she continues to do, and if you have a picture woud love to see her.
Mona, HOneybun and Chloe
Re: Just noticed a lump on 15-yo's back!
Tracey.....may I just say thank YOU....for going that extra mile for Casey and for getting the oncologists to take a look. Sounds like you had a great team working for you.
I do want to suggest, however, that you discuss with your primary vet soon, the option of a recheck in about 6 months from now (or sooner of course, should you notice anyt signs of illness, or any obvious sudden changes in the lump from this day forward). A recheck aspirate can be done as well as an x-ray evaluation of critical chest areas. This would be a preventative measure, to be sure you are abreast of any developments from here on in.
Again, not wanting to scare you, but just want you to get a recheck in near future to keep an eye on things.
I couldn't be more thrilled with hearing this good news. Casey is so fortunate to have you as her meowmie!!
I do want to suggest, however, that you discuss with your primary vet soon, the option of a recheck in about 6 months from now (or sooner of course, should you notice anyt signs of illness, or any obvious sudden changes in the lump from this day forward). A recheck aspirate can be done as well as an x-ray evaluation of critical chest areas. This would be a preventative measure, to be sure you are abreast of any developments from here on in.
Again, not wanting to scare you, but just want you to get a recheck in near future to keep an eye on things.
I couldn't be more thrilled with hearing this good news. Casey is so fortunate to have you as her meowmie!!
..........Traci
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Tracey
Re: Just noticed a lump on 15-yo's back!
Hi Traci:
No need to thank us for caring for our baby! We're only doing what we feel we should, not to mention what we want to do for her. We never had human children (yet--and looks unlikely), and so Casey is our "first" (and only--earlier circumstances dictated only one pet, and when she became so spoiled, we just couldn't add another one to the household and upset her--the princess!).
Yes, we'll certainly be monitoring her health closely--always have (this cat has had more health care than either hubby or me!). I hate to put her through so much, though. We've kind of talked about it--that since the tumor is so deep, that we'd rather not put her through any surgery for it, but then if it should happen to be a "simple" cancer (not needing the wide margins of a VAS), maybe we'd consider. I also think we'll be taking her back to the oncology dept for her checkup regarding this matter instead of our vet (even though we really like her). After all, it doesn't make sense to be redundant in our expenses for her (not like it really matters to us, though). Besides, they seemed to take excellent notes regarding this lump, so they'd have more on file than her regular vet, etc. It seems she really received excellent care, and we were happy (Univ. of Illinois Vet School).
Again, thank you for having this website available for pet lovers and for the helpful responses I received. It's a tremendous service and resource.
Tracey
No need to thank us for caring for our baby! We're only doing what we feel we should, not to mention what we want to do for her. We never had human children (yet--and looks unlikely), and so Casey is our "first" (and only--earlier circumstances dictated only one pet, and when she became so spoiled, we just couldn't add another one to the household and upset her--the princess!).
Yes, we'll certainly be monitoring her health closely--always have (this cat has had more health care than either hubby or me!). I hate to put her through so much, though. We've kind of talked about it--that since the tumor is so deep, that we'd rather not put her through any surgery for it, but then if it should happen to be a "simple" cancer (not needing the wide margins of a VAS), maybe we'd consider. I also think we'll be taking her back to the oncology dept for her checkup regarding this matter instead of our vet (even though we really like her). After all, it doesn't make sense to be redundant in our expenses for her (not like it really matters to us, though). Besides, they seemed to take excellent notes regarding this lump, so they'd have more on file than her regular vet, etc. It seems she really received excellent care, and we were happy (Univ. of Illinois Vet School).
Again, thank you for having this website available for pet lovers and for the helpful responses I received. It's a tremendous service and resource.
Tracey